Tobacco-case



(No Model.)

' W. DE HAVEN.

' TOBACCO OASE.

No. 503,717. Patenteuug.- 22, 189s.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM DE HAVEN, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOBACCO-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,717, dated August 22, 1893.

Application filed December 27, 1892. Serial No. 456,299. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DE HAVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Tobacco-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Improvements in that class of cases in which leaf tobacco is first packed by the buyer after being purchased from the grower, and in which it is inspected and then sold to the manufacturer. After the tobacco is packed in the case it is examined and sampled by inspectors, who separate the mass at different places about the sides thereof for that purpose. The cases in common use are made with posts-one at each corner-to whichvthe bottom, sides, and top are nailed. When the tobacco is to be inspected the sides or parts of the sides, and the top of the case are pried off, so that the inspector may have access to the contents, and

f after the inspection is finished those parts are again nailed on. The tobacco is inspected in the case not only once, but, in many instances, a number of times, for although a customer sees the inspectors samples he, nevertheless, frequently wants to examine the contents of the case to ascertain how it has cured since the samples were taken out and what the condition of the tobacco is at the time he is bargaining for it, so that a case is often opened a number of times for dierent customers. This prying off of the sides and top of the box is not only laborious, vexatious and troublesome but it splinters and breaks the parts of the cases, so as to frequently injure them to such an extent that they can no longer be put together and the tobacco has to be repacked. In addition to this it is difficult to get at the tobacco so as to examine the interior of the mass satisfactorily.

The object of my invention is to produce a tobacco case cheap and simple in construction; one so made that it will allow the whole mass of its contents to be exposed to view without forcibly detaching any of the parts from the case, and into which the tobacco can again b'e easily secured; and one from which a portion of the contents can be removed without disturbing the mass in such a manner as to prevent the case from being readily closed again.

I accomplish my object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in Which-- Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a tobacco-case embodying my improvements, the lid being removed and portions of the body cut away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inner face of the lid showing the contents of the case piled thereon as left by the removal of the body of the case. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical central section of the case with the lid in place, and Fig. 4E a similar transverse section. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the broken line ooe-, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view of the fastening bolt or rod, shown detached from the case, and Fig. 7 an end view of a modified form of rib.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The tobacco-case comprises a box-body having interior corner-posts A, button A', sides B, ends C, and lid or cover D. With the exceptions hereinafter noted these parts are constructed and put together in the usual manner.

The lid of my case is set down between the sides B, so that its top surface is flush with the upperedges of said sides, the ends C and corner posts A being reduced in height for that purpose. The ends of the lid cover the upper edges of the ends C and have their own edges flush with the outer faces of said ends C. Near the ends and on the inner face of lid D there are secured ribs E and F, so located and of such length that when the lidis secured on the box they rest between and extend fromone to the other of the posts of each end pair. These ribs brace the upper ends of the posts and serve as the medium through which the lid is secured on the box. The ribs can be made diderently, the construction shown in Fig. 2 and on the left in Fig. 3 being preferred. This rib E, is made of two pieces secured to the lid with their adjacent faces resting against each other, and in these adjacent faces there are formed longitudinal semicircular grooves that coincide with each other and form a bore, as shown. The ends of the bore register with perforaiions, b,

g, on the threaded end of the bolt, is Aalso countersunk in the side of the box, said bolt being of such lengththat the screw-end does YIO not project beyond the face of that side. On the right of Figs. 3 and 5 is shown a rib.,.F, having the upper edge f beveled to form a shoulder for the engagement of the screwbolt, whilein Fig. 7 there is shown a rib formed center.

My construction makes a particularlystrong and durable tobacco-case. Sinking the lid between the sides and securing itto theposts.

prevents those sides from being loosened on the posts by the strain thereon as the case is Walked about on its edges. upper ends of the posts, and the screw-rods bind the parts rmly together.A Countersinksides of those with which they are piled in4 `the ware-house and avoids the obstruction they would voer to sliding the case about on the sides on which they rest.

.hen the tobacco is to be inspected the case is turned upside down, the lid resting on the iioor, the nuts are detached and the screw. rods Withdrawn, and then the box is raised; up bodily, leaving the tobaccorosting on the lid and exposed on all sides. After inspec-y tion the box is put down over the tobacco and th'elid secured in place. In replacingthe specified.'

lid after removing a portion of the contents, WM. DE HAVEN. of the box the ribs push away any loose ob. Witnesses:

structing scraps of tobacco, andlwhen the WM. R. GERHART, bores thereof register with the perforations GEO. A. LANE.

The ribs s tay they screw-rods.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a box-body having corner-posts, of a'lid, ribs on the lid extending between the contiguous faces of opposit-e posts, and fastening rods passing through openings in the ribs and openings .through the posts and the sides of said boxbody, substantially as and for the purpose Y specified.

of a singlepiece having a bore, r, through the 2. The combination, with a box-body having corner posts, Said corner posts and the ends of the box-.body being of less height than 'the sides thereof, of a lid set down between the sides of the box-.body and resting on the ends of the same Withits upper surfacetlush with the edges of said sides, ribs on the lid extending between contiguous faces of opposite posts, and fastening f rods passing through openings in the ribs and openings through the posts and sides of said box-body, substantially as and for the purpose specified.v

3. The combination, with, a box-body having inside corner-posts, of a lidset down' be- 4 tween and having its upper surface flush with the edges of the sides of the box-body, ribs on the lid extending between contiguous faces of opposite posts, and fastening rods passing through openings in thefribs and openings through the posts and the `sides of said boxjbody, the heads `of said rods and the nuts thereon being countcrsuk in thesides of the box, substantially as and for the purpose 

